Rodrigues' recommendation may change this), but my next question would be, are there any cities/markets where 1 of the following are true: 1) You have family/friends that live there, 2) You travel there frequently (either for vacation, work, etc.), or 3) Somewhere else you've lived before AND know the area well?

Use tools like the VA loan for house hacking and your Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) to cover living costs while building equity.

Lived in The Woodlands for almost 19 years now and been investing up in this area for the last 9.

I don't know your living situation but if your paying x,xxx for rent or a mortgage and instead by living in one side and renting out the other you will be paying y,yyy instead and y is less then x that's great, especially if you can rent out your primary residence and make income there too. 

Since costs of living depend on the area of the country, this will also influence hourly rates.Again though, Google AI can provide answers!

Once you take over a property as an owner occupant, if it is a single family or condo you can live in it for 1 year and that automatically exempts your unit from rent control.

My most trusted and often used contractor who lives in the area, and is practically a friend is the emergency contact.   

I live in California, this is a bay area property.were not looking to move out of state and house hacking is less palatable when a duplex costs 1.6 million.

I recently purchased my first duplex in Peoria, AZ in September and I am using it as a house hack where I rent out one side and live in the other.

There has been a squatter living in it for about 3 years, that refuses access to anyone that I have sent out there to assess the property.Safeguard personnel stopped communication with me last year.